Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
...I have a second feed and have always felt the network SQ was excellent. That said, I cannot do the comp between TRouter and Dedicated line, as I don't have the router. Perhaps at some point.
I recall the router was offering some technical magic to the workflow, but I reasoned if all packets were flowing to the server, what else is there to manage or be impacted upon from the house, Sweetie's online shopping, Netflix, etc. Seemed as pure as it gets.
I am 100% not having an IT tech throw-down here, as we all know how that would end! Just offering the general data point that the second line (fiber) has been good here. And at 50-60 bucks a month, the ROI against the router purchase would be ~10 years. That was my thinking. Always standing by to receive more data and alternative positions! Cheers, guys.
Just FYI - with the Olympus having only a router (and no switch) in my system sounds a lot better than having only a switch (and no router).
What about the other permutation of both switch AND router as compared to each used solo?
Router only gives you more direct sound. I tend to like that on the big horns.
Router + switch smoothens things out a bit and it sounds more beautiful. I have a feeling that will be your preference, @Tuckia.
Switch only - well, I can't really go back to that after hearing the router.
DC Distributor - gives you a lot of options to fine tune things to your liking.
Power supply on the switch / router - with the Olympus being so much lower noise than any other digital source I have heard before, it's even easier to hear differences between power supplies, and they are quite impacting. A good LPS sounds much better than a battery pack from Amazon in my system.
For reference, with my Taiko Extreme, I felt like I absolutely needed both - the switch and the router. With the Olympus, I feel like the router is an absolute must and whether the switch is needed is a personal preference / system dependent driven thing.
Thanks for clarifying. Very meaningful. Generally I do concur with your assessment of what I like, or rather what I have liked up to this point. We have talked about this.
My overriding curiosity is how the arrival of the Olympus will change my primary calculus of system balancing. I anticipate that greater truth from the source will require relearning how to listen. and then finding downstream equipment to best compliment this. In other words, does pretty tube distortion detract from the gained quality. Alternately, does SS distortion detract from gained quality. Now I need to consider the effect of the switch in this equation too.
I'm happy with each improvement that the switch, dcd, and router brought to the system with the Extreme. Here the router is mandatory.
If a dedicated internet feed that is not requesting addresses, packets, data, is inferior to the Taiko Router. It would appear that the router is doing something more. I don't understand what more it does. I already have dedicated internet without anyone on my feed. I'm not doubting Emile, I just can't wrap my brain around this...
With that dedicated feed you’ll be using the ISP supplied (non audiophile) router.
Nowadays it’s generally accepted that:
1) an audiophile network cable sounds better than a standard network cable
2) an audiophile switch sounds better than a standard switch
3) audiophile routers are the new kid on the block, there aren’t many around (yet?), but why wouldn’t the same apply for the router as 1) and 2) ?
I wasn't taking into account the ISP aspect. Then it gets a little convoluted with a DIA (Dedicated Internet Access). Which is more for a business setting. Understood, all 3 that you mention have an accumulative positive effect...Thank You
You’re welcome!
As far as what makes the router special is the processor is security hardened to the ultimate degree. Data can be stolen/snooped by measuring power line and EMI/RFI fluctuations. The processor in the router does not change power draw nor emissions when it processes data. Next to this it’s (obviously) designed with audiophile powersupplies, circuitry, parts, chassis etc.
Hearing the benefits of a dedicated audio only router without home network
Inspired by the impact of routers and switches in audio setups, I tested a dedicated 4G router (e.g., TP-Link MR550 or MR600 with a quality LPS). Using my phone's SIM card initially but I gained enough in SQ and still use a second audio router setup with it's own data SIM.
- This setup virtually excludes all noise from your home network, offering a cleaner baseline to evaluate your system.
- It bypasses ISP-related noise by creating an isolated "air gap" network.
- 4G Router Setup: The 4G router handled the internet connection independently, isolated from my home network.
- Ethernet Connection: A short Ethernet cable linked the 4G router to my audio switch.
- Usual Path to Streamer: The switch connected with your preferred cable to the streamer as usual.
- Control Device: My control device also logged into this audio-only network (try with power saving option and 2.4Ghz only).
- Note: This works for streaming AND local files only within this audio network.
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a 4G router gets its data through the cell phone network, no connection to the home network needed (unless to control the audio server via that route, but that can be done over internet)
I created a second Audio Network with the 4G router:
4G Router → Ethernet Cable → Audio Switch → Ethernet Cable → Streamer
As said above, the SIM card in the 4G router provides direct internet access over the air, delivering streaming services like Tidal to the streamer. This short, dedicated connection, with your choice of RJ-45, fiber or DAC cable, is isolated from your noisy Home Network making it less susceptible to interference that could degrade sound quality.
Your control device (iPad/Phone) must connect to the Audio Network (now separated from your home network).
The Home Network still receives internet from the modem/router provided by your ISP, but there is no longer any connection to your Audio Network, which has been physically separated and isolated from noise.
This setup is ideal if you suspect noise interference in your audio system and want to compare the experience of streaming audio from an isolated network versus one with potentially 40, 60, or 100+ devices connected.
Edit: Hopefully, this will help you decide whether to go for an Extreme Router, an Extreme Switch, or both! Keep in mind that while the 4G router provides isolation from the home network, that is just one feature of the Extreme Router. In a setup like below where the Extreme Router is replaced by a 4G router directly connected to the internet, the separation between Zone A (Home Network) and Zone B (Extreme Network) becomes even more distinct. By eliminating the link between the two zones, this setup achieves maximum isolation, a result that can also be achieved—and even enhanced—using the Extreme Router.
Taiko-Audio-Router-Manual-V27 p. 9/35
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